Things to do in Mbarara city

Are you trying to figure out what activities are the greatest in Mbarara City? You really should go to Mbarara City if you are in Uganda. Most visitors only get to see the city while traveling to Lake Bunyonyi and Queen Elizabeth National Park on safari or while going on a gorilla trekking excursion in Bwindi. Mbarara City is situated in Uganda’s southwest region.

The total area of the city is around 1,0020 square kilometers. The districts of Sheema, Ntungamo, Ibanda, Kiruhira, Buhweju, and Isingiro round Mbarara. Other close districts include Bushenyi, Mitooma and Rubirizi. Despite losing some of its territory to other recently created districts, Mbarara remains the region’s major metropolis.

Mbarara’s naming origin from the colonial administrators of the period mispronouncing one of the local Ankore terms. The term “Emburara” describes a tall variety of green grass that the longhorned Ankole cattle love. The region was given its name since the Colonialists mispronounced the word.There are currently more than a million people living in Mbarara City.

The predominant tribe in the city is the Bayankore. Agriculture is their primary economic activity. For the most part, they raise rare domestic animals and crops for livelihood. There is a solid reason why Banyankore and Mbarara City have a long history of being cow rearing zones. Some of Uganda’s biggest cattle farms are located in this city.

The predominant breed of cattle is the Ankole cattle with long horns. Due to the region’s abundance of grazing pasture, many herdsmen have been forced to relocate their cattle to other parts of the nation in more recent times. Some have completely given up on raising cattle and begun cultivating fruits or cash crops in smaller areas.Compared to Jinja, Masaka, Gulu, Entebbe, and Mbale, Mbarara has developed more quickly due to its rapid growth and comeback.

After Kampala City, Mbarara is currently the second-largest metropolitan area. In terms of infrastructure, industry, and significance, Mbarara is only surpassed by Kampala. The city has seen an incredible explosion in the construction of modern structures, including plazas, arcades, hotels, hospitals, and shopping centers. These days, the Mbarara University of Science and Technology is among the biggest schools in Uganda, having been established in 1989.

The Nile Breweries, the Mbarara Steel Plant, the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, the Mbarara Community Hospital, the Mayanja Memorial Hospital, the Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital, the Ruharo Mission Hospital, the Uganda Bible Institute, Bishop Stuart University, Ntare School, Mbarara High School, and Maryhill High School are additional points of interest.

Being a major route to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is advantageous to Mbarara. As we’ll see later, Mbarara’s proximity to some of Uganda’s top national parks makes it a popular tourist destination as well. Please take a look at our one-day Kampala tour package if you are currently in Kampala. Let us talk about a couple more Mbarara facts.

A brief history of Mbarara

Mbarara isBy road, Mbarara is roughly 290 kilometers from Kampala. You must board a bus at the Qualicell Bus Park in order to travel to Mbarara by public transportation. The Nakivubo Bus Terminal is where you may find buses headed for Mbarara, although this park is near to the recently constructed taxi park.

The two bus companies that operate the Kampala Mbarara route are Swift Coaches and Horizon. Numerous lodging options are available in Mbarara, both inside and outside of the town. Among many other options, you can choose to stay at the Agip Motel, Rwizi Hotel, Oxford Inn, or Lakeview Resort Hotel.

You might be interested in knowing this if you are thinking on visiting Mbarara and are wondering when the best time of year is to go. You can travel to Mbarara at any time of year. December With less rainy months, January, February, June, and August are great for summer travel.

Activities in Mbarara City

The Cultural Center of Igongo:

2011 saw the construction of this center along the Mbarara to Masaka road. It is erected on the grounds, which hosted the former palace of the King of Ankole. One of Uganda’s most important cultural destinations is the Center.

It aids in highlighting and promoting the South Western Ugandan people’s cultural heritage. The Eriijukiro museum is one of the Center’s main draws. The Eriijukiro museum takes approximately thirty minutes to tour. On the other side, the Eitaramiro cultural village depicts the appearance of a typical Kinyankore household from hundreds of years ago.

You will observe conventional household things such animal hides, calabashes, milk gourds, grinding stones and a fireplace built of stones. Try the traditional restaurant at the Igongo Cultural Centre to sample some Ankole cuisine, such as matooke, ghee, and millet bread. Strong regional beverages derived from sorghum and maize are also available for sampling. If the cocktails are not your thing, check out the antique animal and human sculptures in the book and craft store.

 Igongo Cultural Centre: 

The igongo cultural centre  dedicated to other ethnic groups, such as the Bakiga and Batooro. After your visit to the Igongo Cultural Center, you would have a better understanding of how the people of  residents in the region lived hundreds of years ago.

You can stay the night at the upscale hotel at the Center while doing incremental tours of the building and the city. It features conference facilities. The Igongo Cultural Center personnel can make arrangements for you to participate in additional events outside of the building.

With this arrangement, you can see the Biharwe Eclipse monument in Mbarara or go beyond town to explore Bahima villages and honey plantations. You should prepare to learn how to manufacture ghee or butter from scratch if you are shown around by a Bahima tribesman. Should time permit, you may request to accompany the herdsmen as they herd cattle into the wetlands to graze. Before saying goodbye, you should assist with milking the cows when you return with them.

Sanga Cultural Village:

Is perhaps the finest spot to go if, after seeing the Igongo Cultural Centre, you are still interested in experiencing more culture. The Bahima people, a subgroup of the Ankole tribe, are celebrated for their cultural legacy at this center.

It is situated near to the intersection leading to the National Park of Lake Mburo. Many of the Bahima tribesmen’s traditional attire and implements can be seen here. The Hima women you will encounter are quite knowledgeable about the tribe, women’s roles in the home, and other antiquated customs.

See the long horned cattle of Ankole:

The reason Mbarara is called Ankole livestock like the country of honey and milk. The Ankole cattle are resilient and able to withstand difficult circumstances. They tend to grow longer and develop striking horns, and they are often less prone to illness.

Sadly, this rare species is under danger due to crossbreeding with smaller Zebu cattle. The largest cattle farms in Uganda are owned by the Banyankore. Because of the Ankole cattle, Mbarara city is the nation’s top producer of milk and other dairy products. Numerous farms with hundreds or perhaps thousands of cattle are seen along the side of the road, as you get closer to the city. Numerous sizable farms welcome guests and tourists.

To discover more about how the farms operate, you can visit one and take a tour through Naleyo tours and travels. Take a safari by foot, in a quad bike, atop a horse, or in a traditional safari vehicle from Naleyo tours and travels. The night game drives in Lake Mburo National Park sets it apart from other national parks in Uganda and offers the best chance to observe Leopards.

Additionally, you can take a boat tour at Lake Mburo to witness hippopotamuses and crocodiles. With its own cultural center, Lake Mburo National Park may one day compete with Igongo. Lake Mburo is one of the best spots for sport fishing in Uganda. Birders should anticipate to sport the Shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warblers, red-faced barbets, Wood Doves, Common Scimitarbill, the Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-headed Lovebird and the African finfoots. Lake Mburo offers some excellent hotels and lodging options if you intend to stay longer than a day.

See the different bodies of water:

Several bodies of water traverse the limits of Mbarara. The three most notable ones are Lake Kachera, River Ruizi, and Lake Nakivale. Situated in the southeast of Mbarara City is Lake Nakivale. There are around forty kilometers separating the city from the lake in the Mbarara district. Large, open fields surround the lake, and its sandy beaches are great for picnics. The Nakivale Refugee Settlement is situated near the lake as well. On the other hand, Bushenyi District’s highlands provide the water for the River Ruizi. After that, the river continues on to Lake Kachera. River Ruizi is appropriate for fishing, kayaking, and seeing baby primates.

Since Lake Kachera is partially located within Lake Mburo National Park, it is able to host a large number of park animals. In fact, some of the animals are seen from designated locations without requiring you to pay the park admission fee needed for an entire safari experience. If you think this article is useful, you should also read the one on Mombasa, Kenya’s tourist attractions.

Tour of Mbarara City:

Mbarara is a rapidly growing metropolis that you must visit in order to fully understand the city. The local markets are the first location to visit if one wants to get a taste of city life. Going to local markets gives you an opportunity to learn about the customs and helps you comprehend the type of life they lead and the difficulties they encounter.

You are able to watch how individuals go about their daily lives and even hear the newest rumors. You can head to the bigger retail malls after stopping by the neighborhood markets and picking up some fresh produce. Residents of the middle and upper classes are the ones who visit the malls most frequently.

A wonderful spot to start is at Mbarara’s Safariland Park. It features a variety of eateries, stores, and pubs where you can find both locals and visitors. You can enjoy a drink at one of the best hangout spots later in the evening while you wait to explore Mbarara’s nightlife. The most efficient way to explore the city is with a Bodas are motorbike taxis.

 It is dangerous to ride a boda boda, so make sure you get a helmet. Remember that while riding a bike might be enjoyable, boda boda riders are responsible for nearly half of all traffic incidents in Uganda. To prevent the risks associated with using a boda, we strongly advise renting a car.

Other noteworthy locations to see:

As I close this piece, thoughts of the Abagabe tombs cross my mind. The Ankole kingdom’s royal families are interred here. The Nkonkonjeru tombs in Kakika are home to the remains of the final Ankole monarch. In addition, King (Omugabe) Gasyonga, Omugabe Kahaya II, and other royal family members are interred there. You are able to for a modest admission price, you can visit the graves during the day.

If you are not into tomb visits, you can take a tour of the sizable Nile Breweries facility. Only by appointment and during business hours is it possible to tour the brewery. If you would rather not drink beer, you can go to the Coca-Cola plant. Additionally, in order to arrange for a Guide to meet you, they demand that you schedule an appointment in advance. You are able to sample every Coca-Cola product when visiting the factory.

Gorilla trekking;

 Although it takes place outside of Mbarara city, it is still worth mentioning. Fortunately, half of the world’s mountain gorilla population still exists in Uganda in the wild in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Forest. By car, the parks are just four hours away. Once you are in Mbarara, tracking gorillas becomes less difficult and exhausting.